UEFA considers limiting squad sizes

UEFA is considering plans to ask European leagues to limit clubs to a squad size of 25 players in a bid to curb the sport’s massive wage bills.

William Gaillard, special advisor to UEFA president Michel Platini, told Reuters that reducing the number of professional contracts across Europe had “become more favourable” than Platini’s proposal to cap wages and transfer fees.

“There is no quick or easy solution to protect clubs from the global crisis … but one proposal which seems to be gaining a consensus is limiting professional contracts like we have already in the Champions League,” Gaillard said in an interview.

“But of course we would need to get the backing of the major clubs, but more importantly the leagues and associations running their domestic competitions.”

Clubs are currently limited to squads of 25 players for UEFA’s Champions League competition and secondary UEFA Cup.

UEFA is currently in talks with the European Club Association – representing 137 clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid – Europe’s top leagues and the players union FIFpro on ways to protect the game from the economic downturn.

Gaillard said Platini’s plans to limit clubs to spending around 50 to 60 percent on wages and buying players “was still on the table, but has become more difficult”.

“Salary caps is still there, but what form will it take? Europe is a complex place for soccer. We have promotion, relegation, European competitions. It is very difficult to find a one size fits all solution,” he said.

Gaillard said a move to limit the size of squads would help reduce wage bills at clubs and provide “a more level playing field”.

“It would stop the hoarding of players by the richer and more powerful clubs. Players would be signed to play rather than to possibly prevent opponents from signing the player,” Gaillard said.

UEFA had discussed a so-called US-style luxury tax on transfers and players’ salaries with the proceeds redirected to poorer clubs. But Gaillard conceded that the plan “is not top of the agenda”.

“People are less favourable to this idea,” Gaillard said.

“It’s about getting the right cocktail mix of measures. We are looking at an array of measures and building a consensus within the game on which ones to take.”

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